If you only had the name to go by, one might assume that a video game called Joust would be a pitting of two knights, sitting atop their respective trusty steeds, engaging in an effort to successfully skewer their opponent. A reasonable assumption, but one that completely undersells this quirky and popular endeavor. No, Joust, released by Williams Electronics in 1982, offered a much more entertaining challenge, one that focused on a delightfully strange competitive arena. Continue reading...

Strap on that holster and mosey down memory lane. The year was 1975, when the vigilantism of the Old West merged with modern technology. Designed by Taito and distributed by Midway, Gun Fight might have harkened back to the days of the OK Corral, but the inner workings of this popular arcade game were purely state of the art. Continue reading...

In the early days of arcade games, truly immersive experiences were few and far between. Battlezone was a welcome exception. Thanks to realistic controls, which made up somewhat for the simple, green wire-frame vector graphics of the day, and a viewing scope that kept the surrounding real world from view, players of Battlezone enjoyed a unique experience that made this a must-play arcade game. Continue reading...

While working on the Chicago-based Bozo the Clown show in 1962, producer Don Sandburg had a great idea for a contest. Called the Grand Prize Game, it soon became apparent that every kid in the area wanted in on the action. The stakes were high – a silver dollar and a Schwinn bicycle for any youngster who could meet the challenge. Continue reading...

There once was a playing card company in Japan that decided to get their feet wet in the world of arcade games. One day, they introduced an addicting little video game about a plumber battling with an ape and within five years, the name Nintendo would become synonymous with home video game systems. Perhaps every family in America didn’t have a deck of Nintendo playing cards in their living room but millions would eventually have one of their Game Systems. And if you were a kid during this era, it was simply the only game to have. Let's take a look at the history of this iconic toy. Continue reading...

The granddaddy of all platform and handheld game stations, the Atari Video Computer System remains a classic. In the tradition of trench warfare and bayonets, Atari maintains its appeal despite its antiquity. And, like Kleenex or Xerox, the word itself became synonymous with the activity it represented. In the late 70s and early 80s, nobody played video games at home; they played Atari. One had to go to the arcade or to the corner of the local sandwich shop to play video games. Atari, on the other hand, offered a comparable selection of games, required no quarters, and could be played at all hours from the comforts of your living room. Continue reading...